Fence



UNITED" "ST-Ares .PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. BONNAFFON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.-

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,752, dated November 22, 1892.

Application tiled July 22, 1892. Serial No. 440,856. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ALBERT L. BONNAFFON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in portable fences; and it consists in a simple construction whereby the horizontal bars of the fence may be readily and effectively interlocked with the vertical supporting-posts thereof. The construction is such that when the bars are locked in place they cannot be accidentally displaced or detached under ordinary conditions, yet if it be desired to remove the same they may be disconnected from the supporting-posts with ease and facility.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is an elevation of the supporting-post, partially in section, and the meeting ends of two horizontal bars preparatory to their application to and connection with said post. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the bars applied to the post and about to be locked thereto. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the bars applied and locked to the post. Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a plan thereof. Fig. 6 is a view of a modification.

A represents a portion of one of the supporting-posts, which are preferably metallic bars of the form indicated in the drawings, and B B represent the meeting ends of two horizontal bars or rails, which are also preferably of metal and of the form represented. The posts are provided at suitable points with vertical slots a, which are each of sufiicient width and height to receive the overlapping ends of two horizontal bars, and the latter are provided at their contiguous ends with oppositely-inclined slots b,which open on the upper edges of the bars. These slots incline downwardly toward each other and are so disposed that when the ends of the bars are inserted side by side in the slot of the vertical post the mouths of the inclined slots meet on one side of the post and the slots b diverge therefrom, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The device which I employto lockthe ends of the bars together and to the post comprises a loop C of stout wire, which is so shaped as to be freely movable upon the post, a space c equal to the thickness of the two bars being left between the ends of the bent Wire. When the bars are in the position represented in Fig 2, the loop is slipped over the post, the unbroken sideoftheloop being disposed above the months of the inclined slots. This side is then depressed into the slots, and, acting upon the opposed edges of the latter, it forces the bars in opposite directions until it reaches the bottoms of the respective slots,whereupon said bars are electually locked in place, as indicated in Fig. 3. The space c on one side of the loop permits this side to escape the bars .when the loop is being depressed.

It will be observed that the bottoms of the slots b are each provided with an offset b', similarly to a bayonet-joint slot. The function of the oifset is to enable the bar to be moved longitudinally a suicient distance to permit of the requisite movement ofthe bar at its opposite end when the latter is being fastened, it being understood that the slot in the like ends of the respective bars are shaped similarly. The bottoms of these slots are provided in their inner corners with offsets or recesses b2, with which the loop engages when the posts are conjoined, these osets or recesses thus preventing the loop from being accidentally slipped or pushed up.

Instead of employing the above-described oppositely-inclined slots in the ends of the bars I may use the oppositely-disposed rectangular or bayonet-joint slot, shown in Fig. 6. The former, however, are preferable.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a fence, the combination, with the post and the laterally-overlapping bars provided at their ends with slots which open on the upper edges of the bars, of the loop device locking the ends of the bars together and to the post, substantially as described.

2. In a fence, the combination of the post the laterally-overlapping bars having oppositely-disposed slots in the overlapping ends IOO thereof, the mouths of the slots opening on slots .ntheoverlapping endsthereoi, andthe the upper edges' of the bars, andthe loop deloop device adapted to look said ends together vice looking said ends together and to the and to the post, substantially as described.

post, substantially as described. In testimonywhereoflhave hereuntoafxed 15 5 3. In a fence, the combination of the post., my signaturein the presence of tWo subscribthe bars having oppositely-inolined slo'rs in ing witnesses.

the overlapping ends thereof, and the loop device looking said ends together and to the ALBERT L' BONNAFFON post, substantially as described. /Vitnesses: ro 4. In a fence, the combination of the post, ORMoNT RAMBo,

the bars havingoppositel y-inolined and offset- JOHN R. NOLAN. 

